Knock basilica

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Knock Basilica
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Knock Basilica
Ireland adm location map.svg
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Knock Basilica
The Knock Basilica as shown within the map of Ireland
53°47′32″N8°55′02″W / 53.792121°N 8.917152°W / 53.792121; -8.917152
Location Knock, County Mayo
CountryIreland
Denomination Catholic Church
Website link
History
Authorising papal bull 1976
Status Minor basilica, International shrine
Dedication Virgin Mary
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s) Daithi Hanly KHS
Architectural type Modern
Specifications
Capacity10,000
Materials Concrete
Administration
Archdiocese Tuam

The Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland is a Roman Catholic basilica church of the Latin Church located in the small town of Knock, in County Mayo in Ireland. It was designed in modern architecture style with concrete materials by architect Daithi Hanly, and completed in 1976. Its construction was overseen by Monsignor James Horan, who was the parish priest of Knock from 1967 until his death in 1986. [1] On 17 July 1979, Pope John Paul II issued the papal bull "Abunde constat", formally conferring the church the dignity of Minor basilica. [2]

The basilica, which can accommodate approximately 10,000 people, serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam, and it is part of the Knock Shrine grounds that incorporates four other churches, including the Apparition Church, the place where, according to Catholic beliefs, on Thursday evening of 21 August 1879, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and Saint John the Evangelist are proposed to have appeared, the old parish church, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and the Chapel of Reconciliation. In this Ireland's National Marian shrine there are also a religious books' centre, a caravan and camping park, the Knock House Hotel, and the Knock Museum.

References

  1. "Visit Knock Shrine". Mayo County Council. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. "Abunde constat (17 Julii 1979) | Ioannes Paulus II". www.vatican.va (in Latin). 17 July 1979.